Benin's Mask Festival 2026 Draws International Performers to Porto‑Novo

The third edition of the Mask Festival opened on 25 July 2026 in Porto‑Novo, Benin. The opening featured a scientific conference on “Vodun Masks: Heritage and Modernity” hosted by the African Heritage School, with officials including Rogatien Tossou, Mahougnon Kakpo, and local dignitaries. Over the next two days the festival combined research presentations, cultural exhibitions, parades and concerts.

Performers from the Chinese Cultural Center in Cotonou, an Ivorian troupe presenting the Zaouli dance, and Beninese artists such as Richard Flash, Tyaf Papa Yasir and Opa shared the stage. Organisers highlighted the event’s role in promoting Benin’s Vodun heritage and in boosting tourism, aiming to double tourism’s contribution to GDP by 2030 and attract more than two million visitors annually. The government has invested roughly 1.25 trillion CFA francs in culture and tourism over the past decade.

The festival attracted around 40 000 visitors in its first edition in 2024 and hopes to become a major tourist attraction for Porto‑Novo, complementing the popular Vodun Days celebration that drew over 700 000 participants in January 2026.